Latest News

Public out in force to learn about live export cruelty

The Handle with Care coalition’s first public forum to show the harsh realities of Australia’s live export trade was delivered to a full house recently.

The audience at RSPCA Victoria, which included representatives from NFF and the live export industry, was addressed by chair Dr Hugh Wirth, President of RSPCA Victoria, Chairman of WSPA Australia & New Zealand and spokesperson for the Handle with Care coalition in Australia.

Video footage of appalling treatment of Australian sheep in importing countries such as Egypt, Oman and Bahrain was shown, prompting an emotional response from many in the audience. Sadly, this footage represents a small selection from hours of similar footage collected as recently as December 2007. One member of the public described the treatment of Australian sheep as “just disgraceful”.

“We are very pleased with the attendance,” Dr Wirth said, “and it shows how concerned people are with the live export trade.

“As the world’s largest exporter of sheep for slaughter, Australia is a major player in a trade which inflicts suffering on millions of animals every year. The support of the Australian public is vital in ending this terrible trade, which continues to tarnish our country’s otherwise good reputation for animal welfare.”

In 2007 alone, more than 3.7 million Australian sheep endured grueling journeys to the Middle East. Over 35 000 of these animals died on the trip.

During the journey from Australia to the Middle East, heat stress and diseases such as scabby mouth, pink eye and salmonellosis are common and result in the deaths of tens of thousands of sheep every year.
 
For sheep that survive the trip, a much crueller fate awaits them in the hands of countries that have no or unenforced animal welfare laws.

Despite Australian industry claims that it is helping improve welfare standards in the Middle East, it is common for sheep to be horrendously handled and slaughtered in ways that would neither be legal nor tolerated within Australia.
“There is no need for this cruel and unnecessary trade, as countries across the Middle East already accept Halal-certified meat from sheep more humanely transported and slaughtered in Australia,” Dr Wirth said. “We urge the Australian government to end the live export of sheep to the Middle East, and work to expand the existing trade in chilled and frozen meat.”

The forum is part of a campaign by the Handle with Care coalition, an international alliance of animal protection groups calling for governments worldwide to end the long distance transport of animals for slaughter.